Breech mechanism



D. F. ASBURY.

BREECH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15. \916.

1,31 0,045, I Patented July 15, 1919.

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BREECH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. :5, 1916.

Patented July 15, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

DORSEY F. ASBURY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TOUNITED STATES ORIDNANCE COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A.COR- rona'rron 0F VIRGINIA.

BREECH MECHANISM.

Application filed March 15, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DORSEY F. AsBURY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have in: vented certainnew and useful Improvements in Breech Mechanisms; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the "same.

My invention relates to breech mechanisms. j

The objects of my invention are to move the plug longitudinally farenough to getthe gas check out of its seat so that a substantiallycylindrical seat may be employed, the slight slope of the seat beingused for entering clearance; to rotate the plug while it is movedlongitudinally in order to translate its longitudinal movement to rotarymovement and vice versa; to provide cam devices betweenthe plugandca-rrier to move the plug longitudinally and to rotate same duringits longitudinal movement; to provide cam devices between the plug andcarrier to' rotate the plug and move same lon-' gitudinally during itsrotary movement; to provide cam devices between the plug and carrier fortranslating the longitudinal movement of the plug to rotary movement andvice versa; to use the energy stored in the plug (luring carriermovement toward the breech to move the plug longitudinally while thecarrierv is at rest against the gun and to translate said energy duringsaid longitudinal movement to plug rotating energy; to translate theenergy in the plug due to rotary movement to energy to move the pluglongitudinally and to use the translated energy to help move the breechmechanism from the gun breech; to translate the energy stored in theplug during carrier movements to plug rotating energy while the carrieris at rest; to provide a cam de vice including a roller on the plug anda cam on the carrier for translating the longitudinal movement to rotarymovement and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

Serial No. 84,348.

vice verse; to have the cam on the carrier bear against the gun duringthe action of the cam device to provide a structure whereby the reactionof the cam device between the plug and carrier tends to hold the carrieragainst the gun during the action of the cam device; to provide meansfor rotating the plug and cam devices between the plug and carrier formoving the plug longitudinally while it is rotated by said means; toprovide a reverse cam device between the plug and gun to prevent theplug and carrier from moving away from the gun while the cam devicebetween the plug and carrier is coacting; to extend the cam devicebetween the plug and carrier so it will coact during the total rotarymovement of the plug; to hold the plug against rotary movements whilethe carrier is away from the gun, by the cam device between the plug andcarrier; to hold the plug from longitudinal movement with respect to thecarrier while the carrier is away from the gun; and to provide energytranslating cam devices between the plug and carrier so that anyadjustment at the hinge will not affect the adjustment of the camdevice.

In the drawings chosen to illustrate my invention. the scope whereof ispointed out in the claims Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a gun.embodying my invention, the breech mechanism being shown locked;

Fig.2, a horizontal section through a portion of the breech, the plugbeing unlocked and withdrawn.

Fig. 3, a section on the line 3'3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings A is the gun, B the breech plug and C theswinging carrier which latter embodies a spindle C. The plug B ismounted on the spindle C for both rotatable and longitudinal movements.

Slidable in the bore of the spindle C is the stem 10 of a mushroom 11and confined between the plug B and mushroom 11 is a gas check 12 of theDe Bange type. Forward sliding movement of the mushroom 11 and stem 10relative to the-plug is limited by means of a mushroom stem nut 13 whichis adapted to engage a cup 14 acting against compression rods 15 whichlatter in turn act against the plug B all as is fully described in my U.S. Patent Number 1,186,266, granted June 6, 1916. The plug B is adaptedto be rotated bymeans of a crank shaft 16 operatively connected to acrosshead 17 slidably mounted in the-plug and rotated through the mediumof a handle 18 all as fully described in U. S. Letters Patent 1,020,849granted to George L. Smith and myself March 19, 1912. It will however beobserved that I can employ any suitable means for rotating the plug.

In order to employ a gas check and gas check seat with very little taperin breech mechanisms of the general type disclosed provision must bemade for moving the plug longitudinally while the pad is in the seat.

,To this end I provide on the free end of the carrier C an extension 19so shaped as to produce an outer cam surface 20 and an inner cam surface21 corresponding in shape to the outer cam face. The extension 19 alsoembodies a reverse cam surface 22 for a purpose that will presentlyappear. The plug B is provided at its rear end with a radial passage 23in which is detachabllly secured by a screw 24 a journal pin 25.' ountedon the inner end of the'pin 25 for cotiperation With the cam surface 21is a roller 26 while anotherv roller 27 is mounted on the outer end ,ofsaid pin for cooperation with the cam surface 20. Also mounted on thepin 25 outwardly of. the roller 27 is another roller 28 adapted to coactwith a reverse cam 29 mounted on the gun A. Pivotally mounted on theouter end ofthe extension 19 is a spring latch 30 which, when thecarrier is away from the gun, is normally held in engagement with theroller 28 to prevent the plug movinglongitudinally. This latch 30 isprovided with a tail 31 which engages the gun during final closingmovement of the carrier and rocks the latch so that when the carrier isclosed the latch is held out of engagement with the roller 28 and alsoout of the path of travel of said roller. It will also be observed thatwhen the plug 3 is unlocked and in its rearmost position the surface 22coacting with the roller 27 serves as a lock to secure the plug againstlocking rotation until the plug moves forward longitudinally.

Assuming that the breech mechanism is being closed and that the partshave reached the position shown in Fig. 2 it will be apparent that asthe carrier C has reached the limit of its closing movementthe energystored in the plug B will move the latter longitudinally and operate thecam devices on the plug and carrier to translate such energyto plugrotation energy and thereby effect locking of the plug. In opening thebreech of the gun it will be apparent that are disengaged from the screwbox threads so.

that at such times the plug B, in opening and closing the breechmechanism, will be rotated and moved longitudinally in varying ratio. Inother words in closing the breech and when the plug threads aredisengaged from the screw box threads the longitudinal movement oftheplug decreases as the rotation increases, while in opening the breechthe rotation of the plug decreases while the longitudinal movementincreases.

When the breach is opened and closed rapidly the forward resultant ofthe reactionary forceof the cam .devices on the plug and carrier duringtheir coaction tends to hold the carrier to the gun. In the event thebreech is opened and closed very slowly, in which instances very littleinertia ,is present in the plug, the engagement of the roller 28 withthe cam 29 holds the carrier to the gun during the coation of the camdevices on the plug and carrier.

It will be noted that the roller 26 is always in engagement with the camsurface 21 and thereby serves to hold the carrier to the plug at alltimes. By removing the pin 25 when the plug B is locked and therebydisengaging the roller 26 it will be apparent that the carrier can beremoved bodily from the gun by simply removing the nut 13' from the stem10 and the hinge pin of the carrier from its bearings.

Whatis claimed is 1'. In a breech mechanism, the combination of acarrier, a breech plug mounted on the carrier for both rotatable andlongitudinal movements, and means operating between the plug and carrierwhereby successive units of either movementof the plug will producevarying amounts of the other movement.

2. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a carrier, a breech plugmountedbn the carrier for both rotatable and longitudinal movements, andmeans between the plug and carrier for translating one move]- tion of acarrier, a breech plug mounted on the carrier for both rotatable andlongitudinal movements, and cam devices between-the plug and carrier fortranslating the energy of one movement of the plug to produce the othermovement of the plug in a varying ratio with respect to the firstmovement.

6. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a carrier, a breech lugmounted on the carrier for both rotatab e and longitudinal movements,and variable lead cam devices between the plug and carrier fortranslating the stored energy of one movement of the plug to produce theother movement of the plug.

7. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a carrier. a breech *plugmounted on the carrier for both rotatable and longitudinal movements,and means between the plug and carrier for transiating the stored energyof one movement of the plug to produce the other movement of the plugina varying ratio with respect to the first movement.

8. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, a breechplug mounted on the carrier for both rotatable and longitudinalmovements, a gas check device, and means operated, after the carrier isclosed, by the energy stored in the plug to produce combined rotary andlongitudinal movements of the plug in varying ratio.

9. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, a breechplug mounted on the carrier for both rotatable and longitudinalmovements, and a variable lead cam device operated, after the carrier isclosed, by the energy stored in the plug to impart rotary movement to'the plug as it moves forward.

.10. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, abreech plug mounted on the carrier for both rotatable and longitudinalmovements, and means operated, after the carrier is closed, by theenergy stored in the plug to produce combined rotary and longitudinalmovements of the plug.

11. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, arotatable breech plug, and a device for translating the energy stored inthe plug during closing of the breech mechanism to plug rotation energy,

said device comprising a roller and a cam one of which is mounted on theplug and the other on the carrier.

12. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, arotatable breech plug, and coacting cam devices on the plug and carrierfor translating the energy stored in the plug during closing of thebreech mechanism to plug rotation energy.

13. In a gun breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier,- arotatable breech plug, and coacting cam devices on the plug and carrierfor translating the energy stored in the plug during closing of thebreech mechanism to plug rotation energy, the cam device on the carrierabutting the gun during coaction of the cam devices in both opening andclosing the breech mecha' nism.

14. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a carrier, a breech plugmounted on the carrier'for both rotatable and longitudinal movements,and a variable lead cam device between the plug and carrier fortranslatmg one movement of the plug to the other movement in a varyingratio with respect to the first movement.

15. In a gun breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, arotatable breech plug, and coacting cam devices on the plug and carrier,the reaction of the cam devices during rotation of the plug in eitherdirection tending to hold the carrier against the gun.

1 6. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, arotatable breech plug, and cam devices on the plug and carrier fortranslating the energy stored in the plug during closing of the breechmechanism to plug rotation energy, said cam devices coacting duringsubstantially the entire rotary movement of the plug in eitherdirection.

17. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, arotatable breech plug. and cam devices on the plug and carrier fortranslating the energy stored in the plug during closing of the breechmechanism to plug rotation energy, said canl devices 00- acting duringthe entire rotary movement of the plug in either direction and servingto hold'the carrier to the plug when the plug is in locked position.

18. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, arotatable breech plug, and means automatically operating after thecarrier is closed to translate the energy stored in the plug duringclosing movement of the breech mechanism to plug rotation energy.

19. In a breech mechanism. the combination of a movable carrier. arotatable breech plug, and cam devices for translating the energy storedin the plug during the closing movement of the breech mechanism to plugrotation energy, the coaction of said cam devices occurring after thecarrier is closed.

- 20. In a gun breech mechanlsm, the comthe carrier against movementaway from the gun during coaction of the cam devices on the plug andcarrier.

21. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, abreech plug mounted on the carrier for rotatable and longitudinalmovements, and cam devices on the plug and carrier for translating "theenergy stored in the plug during closing movement of the breechmechanism to plug rotation energy, said cam devices operating to holdthe breech plug against rotary movement while the carrier is away fromthe gun.

22. In a brmzch mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, abreech plug mounted on thecarrier for both rotatable and. longitudinalmovements, cam. devices on the plug and carrier to rotate the plug andmove same longitudinally, and means independent of the cam devices forrotating the plug, said means being locked inoperative by the camdevices while the plug is in its rearmost position on the carrier.

23. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, abreech plug mounted on the carrier for both rotatable and longitudinalmovements, cam devices on the plug and carrier to rotate the plug andmove same longitudinally, and means independent of the cam devices forrotating'theplug, said means bein locked inoperative by the cam devicesW ile the plug is in its rearmost position on the carrier and unlockedby forward longitudinal movement of the plug relativeto the carrier.

24. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, arotatable and longitudinally movable breech plug, and cam devices fortranslating the energy of the plug during unlocking rotation to rearwardlongitudinal movement to move the breech mechanism to open position, thecoaction of the cam devices occurring before the opening movement of thecarrier is produced by the plug. 25. In a breech mechanism, thecombination of a movable carrier, at breech plug mounted on the carrierfor both rotary and longitudinal movements, and variable lead camdevices operating after the carrier is stopped to translate the energystored in the plug during carrier movements towardfthe breech to energyto rotate the plug in the locking direction.

26. In a breech mechanism, the combination .of a movable carrier, abreech plug mounted on the carrier for both rotary and longitudinalmovements, and variable lead cam devices operating before the carrierbegins its opening movement to translate the rotary momentum of the plugproduced by unlocking rotation to move the plug rearwardly.

27 In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, arotatable breech plug, cam devices for translating the energy stored inthe plug during closing of the breech mechanism to plug rotation energy,and a latch normally locking said cam devices inactive and releasablebyengagement with the gun as the carrier completes its closing movement.

28. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, arotatable breech plug, coacting cam devices on the plug and carrier fortranslating the energy stored in the plug during closing of the breechmechanism to plug rotation,energy, and a latch on the carrier normallyengaging the cam device on the plug to hold same against movementrelatively to the cam device on the carrier, 'said latch being moved toreleased posltion by engagement with the gun as the carrier completesits closing movement.

29. In a gun breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, arotatable ';and longitudinally movable breech plug, c0-

a'cting cam devices on the plug and carrier to rotate the plug and movesame longitudinally, and a cam device on the plug and gun operating tohold the carrier against move: ment away from the gun duringlongitudinal movement of the plug.

30. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a movable carrier, abreech plug mounted on the carrier for both rotary and longitudinalmovements, and variable lead cam devices operating before the carrierbegins its opening movement to translate the energy of the plug due tounlocking rotation to energy to move the breech mecha "msm in an openingdirection.

31. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a carrier, a breech plugmounted on the carrier for both rotatable andlongitudinal movements andhaving a non-threaded connection with the carrier, and means wherebyeither movement of the plug will produce the other movement.

32. In a breech mechanism, the combinationof a carrier, a breech plugmounted on the carrier for both rotatable and longitudinal movements andhaving a non-threaded connection with the carrier, and means between theplugand carrier for translating one movement of the plug to the othermovement.

33. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a carrier, at breech-plugmounted on the carrier for both rotatable and longitudinal movements andhaving a, non-threaded connection 'With the carrier, and cam devicesbetween the plug and carrier for translating the energy of one movementof the plug to produce the other movement.

In testimony whereof I a-flix my signature, in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

- DORSEY F. ASBURY. Witnesses:

HENRY T. BRIGHT, A. G. LEECH, Jr.

